Green Safety Guard Day

What Is Green Safety Guard Day?

November 19 is "Green Safety Guard Day" (緑のおばさんの日, Midori no Obasan no Hi) in Japan. On November 19, 1959, Tokyo launched the "gakudo yogoin" (school crossing guard) system to protect children from traffic accidents on their way to and from school. "Midori no obasan" ("green aunties") is the nickname for these guards, who stand at crossings and help elementary school children cross the road safely. The name comes from the green uniforms and caps they wore, green being the symbol color of traffic safety.

How the System Began: Jobs for Women and Safety for Children

The crossing guard system is said to have been created in Tokyo in the postwar reconstruction period, when there were still few jobs for women, as an employment measure for widows. At first the guards worked two hours in the morning and three hours in the afternoon, for a daily wage of 315 yen. As car traffic grew and children's safety on the roads became a concern, the job took root, and from 1961 it spread to other parts of Japan. The guards were temporary staff at first, but in 1965 they became regular employees of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.

What the "Green Aunties" Do

• Guide children across crosswalks and intersections with flags
• Direct traffic during school commuting hours
• Watch over the neighborhood by greeting and talking with children
• Report dangerous spots they notice on school routes to schools and the community

From Paid Guards to Community Watch

In recent years, some local governments have debated or abolished the system, and in many areas PTA members and local volunteers now take turns as flag-holding crossing helpers. There are also male crossing guards, but they have no set nickname like "green aunties." In English-speaking countries, crossing guards are sometimes called "lollipop women" or "lollipop men," because their signs look like lollipops. The day is a chance to notice the people who keep children safe.